The Wolverine strikes again in “Logan”

Michael Broccolo/ Guest Writer

After 17 years, 8 movies, and 2 standalone films, Hugh Jackman once again reprises his role as the Wolverine for one last time in the film Logan. When Hugh Jackman first appeared on the big screen as the loner mutant in previous X-Men movies. His performance won over fans and viewers can’t imagine anyone else playing the character.

Logan is directed by James Mangold, who is known for his biopic on Johnny Cash, Walk the Line, his western remake 3:10 to Yuma, and the thriller Girl, Interrupted. He had also directed the last standalone Wolverine movie in 2013, The Wolverine, which was received with mixed reviews.

The movie takes place in 2029, where mutants are few, Logan (Hugh Jackman) takes care of Professor X, played by Patrick Stewart, on the mexican border. The arrival of a young mutant named Laura, played by Dafne Keen, disrupts Logan’s life as he is forced to confront the forces that are after the young girl. The “R” rating allows the film to explore some dark themes we rarely see in superhero movies. When you have a character like Wolverine, violence is sure to follow and doesn’t hold back.

Jackman goes all out in his performance and it can be considered one of his best performances in his entire career. Throughout the movie, Logan’s regenerative ability is failing and it’s apparent as he gets beat up and shot. Logan’s rugged appearance is not only external, but internal.

Patrick Stewart gives a heart wrenching performance as Charles Xavier who tries very hard to hold on to the hope of what the world once was with mutants in it, but struggles with the reality. While Jackman and Stewart’s performances are amazing, what is even more impressive is Dafne Keen’s performance as Laura. In her breakout role, Keen shines just as much as her veteran co-stars, stealing almost every scene she is in.

Ultimately, Logan is not your typical superhero movie. Logan takes on real issues and applies it to superheros who are facing extraordinary problems while setting it against a neo-western style of film.